Why simulation games are the best thing to play when you're tired

There's a specific kind of tired where you don't want a challenge, you just want to potter. That's when I reach for a sim like Harvest Ridge. Plant some crops, chat with a villager, rearrange the furniture, put the phone down.

The key feature I look for is the absence of energy meters. A sim that stops you after five minutes to make you wait isn't relaxing, it's a timer with a farm skin. The good ones let you play as long or as little as you like.

Offline matters here too. These games are often what I open at the end of the day with the phone in airplane mode, and nothing breaks the calm faster than a pop-up asking me to reconnect.

If you've never tried a cozy sim, start small. Give yourself a few short sessions to settle into the rhythm. The appeal sneaks up on you.